Reese didn't like the Ministry. At all.

There was black like creeping sludge everywhere. It put her on edge.

She didn't have a Floo connection in her loft though, and she wanted one because Katie couldn't Apparate anymore.

Now, standing in the Atrium of the ministry in her blue little sundress, hair windblown from her time playing with Katie's dogs, Kaiya and Pea, on the beach, Reese trembled a bit. The place was suffocating.

She thought perhaps she should have asked Miles to help, or Beckett even, but such was far from her mind at present. She was completely on edge after having Apparated into the building, and just stood still, breathing a little fast.

"Ma'am? Are you all right? You look a bit lost." Actually, Percy thought, she looked a bit panicked. He had just Flooed into the Atrium himself, getting ready to report to the Archives. He really could pop in any time he liked, since he was the only person working there. He had the time to help this woman, if she accepted it. He wasn't procrastinating.

Blinking up at the man who had spoken to her, it took a long moment for Reese to focus on him around all the shadows and darkness everywhere. He didn't have any of that. He was just a pure blue, flecks of yellow and a little bit of orangey red.

"Not alright, not all right, not all right," she whispered in a little chant, taking the few steps between them and wrapping both her hands around one of his. It was settling just touching him. He wasn't black at all. "Can you get me out?" she asked, voice still soft, body still trembling.

Percy recognized the woman as soon as he heard her voice. Reese Ashley had been in his house at Hogwarts. He tucked her hand firmly into the crook of his arm, patting it, and gently steered her towards the lifts. "Where am I taking you then, Miss Ashley?" Percy asked, voice calm and soothing.

"Just ..." Reese tucked herself close, cheek brushing his arm as they moved, "...out of here." Her eyes were a little wide, going distant again as he led her through the large room. There was so much black, so much.

"I think I can take care of that. You don't mind the lift do you? I personally can't stand it myself, but it seems the best course of action," Percy knew what he was saying was of no consequence, but he thought it best to keep talking, as it seemed to keep her from shaking too hard. He fought to keep a frown off of his face as he pondered what could scare her so badly.

The lift going up wasn't crowded, and he ensconced them in a corner, making sure she was still firmly tucked into his arm.

"It seems like it's going to be rather warm today, don't you think? Perhaps no rain. Though something cool to sooth the throat may be in order."

Only when they were outside the building did Reese breath a little easier. There was dark smudges, even here, leaking from the Ministry, but it wasn't as bad. And the man who had brought her out was a bright spot of color, warm.

Cheek resting against his arm as she looked up at him, Reese studied his features as she began to speak. He looked familiar, but it was the blue coating him that really called to her. She'd seen it before. "I don't mind the lift, though I like open spaces better always, but I just don't like it ... there, in that place. It's ... awful," she sad, voice a little stronger, green eyes clear now.

Percy chuckled, "The Ministry does have it's moments, doesn't it." He was sure that if any of his family members had heard that, they might have keeled over. He made the snap decision that he wasn't going in today. Or, well, that he'd work a shifted schedule. They didn't really care when he came and left, as long as he put in his work day.

"What do you say to a spot of ice cream then, my treat?" Percy asked, knowing that a bit of chocolate would soothe her nerves.

A bright smile flashed over Reese's features at the suggestion. "I definitely like ice cream adventures," she replied happily.

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask who he was, but a small frown knit her brow. She knew his blue. She'd met him before. And he knew her. He'd called her name, earlier. She titled her head as she looked at the dark haired man as he led them down the semi crowded street, gaze drifting down in concentration as they walked.

Her eyes drifted to his hands. And stayed there. "You've constellation freckles on your hands," she commented, this bit of information tickling her even more. She could almost feel who this man was with his blue and his freckles, but it was just out of reach. "I've seen them before," she added, reaching out to trace them.

He stopped to peer down at Reese. He was still dark haired, and he thought his freckles were still well hidden. His heart started to beat a little faster, and he looked to see if many others were around them. He was royally failing at keeping himself invisible.

Percy ducked them into an Alley, then cast an Inpeturbable Charm.

"Yes, Miss Ashley you have. You musn't say a word to anyone, not even in your head."

Reese was caught in his gaze, bright blue eyes looking very intently at her. She leaned a little towards him, not able to help it; he was very shiny. "You know me, but I don't know you, not yet, not even inside," she said, a little breathless from having all his focus so wholly on her.

"I know you're blue, like others I've seen, almost a perfect match, and I know your freckles because I used to paint their constellations a long time ago, but I don't know you, not yet. I don't remember things as well as I used to, but I'll try to keep forgetting. It shouldn't be too hard. There's so much blackness - bad things, bad people - everywhere, in that building we were in ... it makes me forget things faster."

Her green eyes were clear and bright as she looked at him, thoroughly caught. "Can I call you something though?"

He had a feeling he'd be seeing his other boss today. Percy was trying to process everything she was saying, or at least put it in a place where he could go back and remember it later. Blue, painting, constellation. Blackness? He found himself lost in thought, and had to mentally shake his attention back to the person in front of him.

"Yes, well, go on then."

"I get to pick something?" she asked, eyes lighting to grass green, a smile tugging at her lips. Reese drifted towards him again, wanting to attach herself, but refraining. He hadn't indicated such was allowed. "Do I have to choose now? Or can I think about it until we've finished our ice cream?"

Percy nodded and offered his arm again, pulse finally slowing to something normal. "I think I rather need the ice cream myself. Shall we?"

As they navigated the streets, Percy found himself wondering what in the name of Persephone he was doing. Out and about in public, not going to work for a bit of ice cream and company. Hadn't he just gone to a solicitor to keep these things quiet?

Reese started attached to his arm, but as the walked, her hands drifted until she was tracing patterns on the back of his hand. Her eyes followed the little invisible designs and it wasn't until the tall man paused their trek that she looked up at him, gaze ticking to the large sign proclaiming ice cream inside the shop of which they stood outside.

Smiling brightly, she brought her gaze back to her yet named companion and raised his hand in both of hers to press two butterfly kisses to the back. "Let's go, let's go," she breathed, body vibrating with her happy excitement as she waited for him to lead them inside.

"I, well, yes, indeed, that is for what it is there. Ice cream, that is," Percy stammered. He could feel the heat off of his face and ears. His mind flashed to a certain Bulgarian newspaper gossip article and he was suddenly glad it was early in the day and not a lot of people were out.

He wasn't used to being touched, even casually, and her attention to his hands, of all places, was putting him off balance. He took a deep breath, and made an effort to cool his face.

"Well, which flavor will you be indulging in this morning?"

Still holding his hand in one of hers, Reese drifted towards the glass displays guarding the ice cream and keeping it cold. "I don't even know," she said, voice soft as her eyes traveled over the different colored flavors. "They're all so pretty."

Percy chuckled, allowing himself to be dragged to the counter. "You'll have to choose one or two, Miss Ashley. You shouldn't have them all." He was leaning towards the butter pecan, himself.

Tucking herself into his side again, Reese looked up at him. "The rosie pink one over there, like Katie," she said, pointing, eyes following. "I think it's strawberry, and the bright sky blue one for Fred, and you kinda, but yours is just a bit darker. I think that one's bubblegum," she continued, leaning against him.

"Oh, and you're Leo for now. Is that okay?" she asked, green eyes bright as she looked up at him, cheek pressed to his arm. "You've the constellation on your hand and it just feels like it's right," she added.

Percy nodded to the man behind the counter, placing his order as well. He tried to ignore the reference to his brother. Now wasn't the time. Turning back to the tiny woman at his side, he repressed a chuckle at her given name for him.

"That will do quite fine, Miss Ashley, very clever indeed." The found seats outside, facing the street. Percy sat with his back to store out of force of habit; he enjoyed watching the people as well.

After a few bites of ice cream, Percy asked, "What brought you to the Ministry in the first place?"

Reese was enjoying the bright colors of the ice cream more than the actual taste of the treat itself; food just had never interested her much unless it looked pretty.

At Percy's question though, she looked up at him, blinking. "I ..." Her brow knitted, thoughts ticking back over what she'd done this day. The overwhelming blackness of the Ministry stood out starkly in her mind and she shivered, but after a few long moments, Reese smiled at Percy. "Katie has babies inside of her now and she can't Apparate anymore, so I wanted her to be able to floo to my loft, but I don't have one. I think I should ask Miles for help, though. I really don't like that ... place."

His brother Fred was dating a Katie Bell, Percy mentally noted, at least at the last report he was able to get on his family. Interesting. It seemed a visit to Fred was needed sooner rather than later.

"I'm sure 'Miles' would be more than happy to assist you. If not, may I offer my services?"

Reese titled her head at the offer, ice cream forgotten for the moment. "If I needed you, how would I find you? Leo's only my name," she pointed out, concerned less with the actual acquiring of a floo at present, than being offered another possible visit with this shiny person. "Could I only find you for floo things? That'd be a little bit sad, I think. You're very shiny and I like the constellations on your hands."

Percy pulled his glasses off and cleaned them. Inspecting them to make sure there wasn't a spec of dust left, he put them back on his nose. He knew that his ears were red because he could feel the heat coming off of them.

"I suppose you could find me for other things, if you'd like, Miss Ashley," he said slowly. He wasn't sure how she would contact him. Owls were perfectly acceptable, but he had the idea that she wasn't the most reliable owl correspondent. He didn't know if he felt secure enough to let anyone know where his flat was, as of yet.

Reese watched him clean his glasses. She really did like his hands. They had pretty pictures on them in star freckles.

At his comment though, Reese's eyes snapped to his and she smiled. "I could?"

Percy couldn't help but smile in return- the look of joy on her face was infectious.

"Yes, you may. Now, finish your ice cream, and then we can figure out you'll get in contact with me, hmm?" Percy raised his eyebrow significantly at her bowl of almost liquid ice cream.

Following his gaze to the liquid mess of color in her bowl, Reese swirled the contents with her spoon, making tie-dye pictures before wrinkling her nose and looking back up at Percy. "I can't eat it now. It's art."


{SUMMARY: Percy makes an unexpected connection in Reese. They have ice cream and art.}